The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-04-01

ATS mind flew back to his fiddle. He
could hear the twang of its strings, and, far
in the future, he could see himself surround
ed by an admiring crowd. Then, catching
sight OF the widows bright eyes, he sprang
forward, caught her in his arms, and exclaim.
ed:
Fiddle or no fiddle, I'll bcs blamed eff
don't want you to be my wife,"
Just then old man Sam stepped into the
room. ALT unclasped the widow and sat
down.
"Miz Beasley," said the old man. "I'm q
mighty pore hand ter purlarver an honey er
roun'. I'm like er bee, DTz BeasleY. Err bee
| don't buz all day round or flower but gifts at
the honey at once. Hove yer powerful an
| wants yer ter be my wife"
Law, me, Mr.. Grear," the blusbing wo-
man replied, young ALT wants me-"
"W'y yer don't pay no confidence ter him,
do yer?"
"Oh, yes, fur he says that he loves me-"
But not eZ well cz he does err fiddle" the
old man replied. Il told him last night that
I'd give him my fiddle eff he'd give you up,
an he tuck the fiddle"
Now come, dad" Aft broke in, "tell all
Nv it. Tell her the fiddle want the iust of
FERN. Tell her that refused the yoke Nv
red steers an two NV the white sow's pigs
Tell her all, dad, fur don't want her to think
that give her up without or struggle"
II have hearn er nutf," the widow replied
Ter tell the truth, it didn't make no ditfunce
with me which one Nv yer married, that is,
didn't make no ditfunce till hearn whut
have, but now, will marry the daddy instead
OF the SON"
The old man took her in his arms. The
young man glded through the doorway
Several hours later, as the old man was near
ing his home, he heard the whining of the
fiddle Entering the house, he found the
young man sitting by the fireplace, with the
fiddle, pressed with sort of despair, against
his breast.
"Wall, Ally, it's all settled"
"What do Ikcre?"
"Uv couse yer kere some. Thought yer
mout like ter know erbout Their 'rangcmenls
we've made, | am ter take charge NV her
farm an let yer work this 'un."
wall, that's all right"
Amt yer goin' ter graduate. me:"
Not ter night"
On the following Thursday the old man and
the widow were married. Alfdid not witness
the ceremony, but, taking his fiddle he went
into the woods. Two months elapsed, and
the father and son had not seen each other
One night, while the young man, as usual,
""S 0''tIuS hShi tuC hlSpIaSc, tiC iutuCl GU
tered. He sat down and for a time said
nothing. Then, with II sigh, he remarked ::
"Alf thurs er fool in this here neighbor-
bcrhood."
That sof"
Yes, an know who it is. It's yer daddy,
ALI"
Reckon you're right"
II know it, Aft, that farm didn't belong
ter that oman. 1t wuz kivercd by er mort
gage CT foot thick, All"
YES, sir"
That woman is or wildcat. See here"
showing bruised place on his head. This
is whar she hit me with or skillet She's
the meanest thing ever see, and yer know
whit she says; says that ef she'd er got holt
NV ycrse'i she er made yer dance. ALI, tell
yer whut I'll do. I'll gin yer the red steers,
the white sow's two pigs, er divorce what
I'm goin' Ter git an that oman, all fur that
fiddle"
Alfpayed lively air, and, winking at the
old man, said Keep yer property dad, fur
it amt in my heart ter cheat yer This old
old fiddle has saved me an now TN going to
save it,"